Hello Tribe fans everywhere.

Those who've watched the Indians closely the past two seasons seem to have little faith in shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Even though they raved about him two years ago when he batted well and fielded adequately, they tired quickly of the young shortstop when he crash-landed in 2006.

Now we have a third opinion -- from Peralta's new keystone partner, recently-acquired second baseman Josh Barfield. The 23-year-old Barfield has played alongside Peralta for only 10 days, but says he's very impressed.

"I don't know why everybody's so down on Jhonny, he can really play," Barfield told Matt Underwood Thursday. Earlier that day, Barfield said he thought there was no way the team could turn a ground ball hit to Peralta's right into a double play. "But Jhonny got there quickly and started turning it."

Barfield didn't say it, but he also made a quick relay to Ryan Garko to complete a terrific double play. It was the defensive gem of the day.

Peralta, who got married and had LASIK surgery on his eyes in December, has seemed like a different player than he was in 2006.

The more I think of it, Peralta could be the key to the Tribe's success this year -- that and a more effective bullpen. Barfield should help him a lot on defense. Ronnie Belliard is not a bad defensive player, but the fact that he played a short rightfield hurt his range. Barfield is much quicker and he's able to cover more ground.

I've long been a believer that teams that are strong up the middle usually have the most success. Grady Sizemore is a plus in center, Barfield appears to be a strong defensive player, which leaves only Victor Martinez behinds the plate (he has to throw better in 2007) and Peralta.

This could actually come all together. See? My brain is in a spring-training mode.

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The answer to the last quickie quiz is: C.C. Sabathia claims to be the best PlayStation 2 player on the club.

Today's quiz: Which Tribe pitcher struck out 19 Minnesota Twins in a 10-inning game in 1968?

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

Yes, it's only March 5 and the regular season doesn't start for four more weeks, but the handwriting on the wall looks clear to me. The Indians are thinking trade. They have to be. And it's probably not a bad idea.

Cleveland's brass held out hopes that Hector Luna would be the answer as the team's infield utility player. Specifically, the Indians want a guy who can play shortstop and third base. But Luna has already bombed in spring training. He came in overweight, he apparently doesn't move very well, and he's already committed three errors. It means he isn't the answer at the utility infielder's spot.

That leaves the Tribe with a couple of choices. First, they can trade for an experienced utility guy -- a player like former Indian John McDonald -- who's adept at moving between shortop and third base. As a matter of fact, Cleveland would probably love to have McDonald back, but he's equally valued by his current team, the Toronto Blue Jays.

That doesn't mean there aren't other utility players out there. What will probably happen is the Tribe will wait a few more weeks to see how Jhonny Peralta is performing at shortstop -- and how Andy Marte is playing at third base. Should either -- or both --- falter, the Tribe could send Marte down, shift Peralta to third and move somebody else in at shortstop.

Or, they could trade Peralta. It'll be interesting to see how far Peralta has dipped in the club's estimation. Only last year, GM Mark Shapiro, etc. thought so highly of him that they signed him to a long-term contract. But Peralta suffered through a miserable year in the field and a sub-par campaign at bat. Worse, he apparently caused some angst in the clubhouse -- to the point where manager Eric Wedge was constantly pulling him aside for "heart-to-heart talks."

After a year of that many "heart-to-heart" chats, if you don't show a lot of improvement, they usually send you packing.

As we've discussed, it's important for the Indians to get this utility infield situation straightened out, because it will be important to keep a righthanded bat like Ryan Garko's on the team. Should the Tribe have to use two players as backup infielders, Garko would be sent back to Buffalo.

The Indians don't have to make a move tomorrow or even next week. But they don't want this situation to carry over into the regular season. What we know so far is that Luna is apparently not the guy. Wedge keeps bellyaching about his weight, his slowness afoot, and his glove.

We're only two weeks into camp, but the Tribe keeps hectoring Hector, which indicates that he's not long for the club.

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The answer to the last quickie quiz is: Luis Tiant. He struck out 19 Minnesota Twins batters in a 10-inning game on July 3, 1968.

Today's quickie quiz: Name the Cleveland player signed by Camilo Pasqual, the great Washington Senators-Minnesota Twins pitcher of the 1950's and '60s. Hint: Pasqual was a scout for the Dodgers when he signed this player.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

Like Jeremy Sowers before him, 22-year-old Cleveland pitching prospect Adam Miller looks like the real deal. He compiled a 15-6 record at Akron last season and continues to impress the Tribe brass. When Miller pitched against the Tigers Monday, several veterans, including C.C. Sabathia, remained in the dugout to watch the kid righthander.

Normally, in spring training, vets clear out the minute they're done for the day. They head off to the outfield to run, go down to the clubhouse for treatment, etc., etc. This time, though, they all wanted a look at Miller.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Miller can bring it at 100 miles per hour, but last season, when he was coming off elbow problems, his coaches kept cautioning him to go with his changeup. Most young pitcher who can throw hard would rather die than toss changeups, but Miller did as told and he ended up developing a really nasty change. It complements his heater and sharp curve quite well, according to all reports.

Tribe skipper Eric Wedge said Miller is ready for the big leagues now, but because the Indians don't really need him at this point, they're going to let him "finish off the rough edges" at Buffalo. It means he'll spend his time polishing his fielding, holding runners close, etc.

The depth of Cleveland's starting pitching is impressive -- at least for this year. Within the next two seasons the Tribe could be down both Jake Westbrook and Sabathia. Chances are good they'll lose at least one -- if not both -- of those pitchers to free agency.

For now, though, I might be tempted to deal Paul Byrd, who only has a year remaining on his contract. A lot of teams are desperately seeking starting pitching, which makes Byrd a little more valuable than he would normally be.

Even if nobody wants Byrd, Tribe GM Mark Shapiro and Wedge can't afford to sit back and watch a repeat of 2006. That is, they sent Jason Johnson out start after start, even after he kept getting bombed by every team. They shouldn't let that happen to Byrd. Admittedly, he's better than Johnson, but Byrd is 36, and he wasn't all that great a year ago.

If the bullpen doesn't come together the way Shapiro hopes it will, Miller's status, plus the availability of Fausto Carmona, is another plus. The Indians should be able to deal for what they need. No use just sitting back and watching bad things unfold, the Indians have to be on the offensive.

Playing in the highly-competitive American League Central Division, Cleveland can't afford to slip too far behind the division leaders. For if they do, they could find themselves buried -- just as they did in 2006.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: Outfielder Franklin Gutierriez was signed by Camilo Pasqual for the Dodgers in 2000.

Today's quiz: Name the No. 1 prospect in the Indians organization, according to Baseball America.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

Last July, when Fausto Carmona's career as a closer was imploding, longtime baseball watchers wondered if the Indians, through their mishandling of the talented young pitcher, might have caused him great harm. They worried that Carmona, then 22, could be scarred for life.

I think Tribe GM Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge made a lot of mistakes in 2006, but trying Carmona as a closer wasn't one of them. Well, based on his horrendous performance, I suppose you could argue that it was a blunder, but I'd say the gamble was worth it.

Carmona pitched so well as a setup man for Bob Wickman that the Indians thought, Oh, why not. We'll dump Wickman's salary and give the kid a shot. He's got a great arm, and if it turns out he can handle the job, we'll have found one of baseball's most coveted commodities -- a proven closer.

Then Carmona went out and blew about 10 games in a week in the most spectacular ways possible -- surrendering walk-off home runs to David Ortiz, Pudge Rodriguez, Mickey Mantle, Rogers Hornsby and Porky Pig. Well, scratch those last three, but you get the idea.

Carmona was so bad that, for a while, the Indians were afraid to send him down to the minors. They kept him around the clubhouse -- on suicide watch, I presume. One of the best things about Carmona, however, is his toughness. Eventually, he was dispatched to Buffalo, where he pitched well. He came back up to the Tribe in September and pitched solidly in four starts, compiling a 2.65 earned run average.

Fausto went to winter ball and lit it up again. Now he's back in spring training and tossing two innings of goose eggs at the Yankees. The plan is to send Carmona back to Buffalo and keep him as an emergency sixth starter.

All the other young players in his boat say, "I'm ready to do whatever they ask of me." But Carmona says, "I don't want to pitch at Buffalo again. I will show them I'm ready for the big leagues."

If he does over the next three weeks -- pitching better than the guys battling for a spot in the Tribe bullpen -- I'd keep him. Carmona has a great arm. At his age he can start or pitch in relief.

The thing about the Indians is they shouldn't worry so much about who fits what role. Just keep the best players. That's how they'll win this season.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: Adam Miller is the Tribe's top-rated prospect.

Today's quiz: In 1966, the Indians acquired a veteran catcher to serve as Sam McDowell's personal catcher, believing that the vet could help him with his game. Name the catcher.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

Sophomore year for talented young pitchers can be a difficult time. The season after Jaret Wright nearly pitched the Indians to a World Championship in 1997, he posted a 12-10 record, with an earned run average of nearly 5.

It's because when the teams adjust to young pitchers, most of the kids don't know how to keep adjusting. That's been on Jeremy Sowers' mind a lot during the past four months.

After impressing just about everyone during the second half of the 2006 campaign, when he cracked the starting rotation and became one of the league's most effective starters, Sowers knew he was on a honeymoon.

Good big-league hitters know how to adjust, and pitchers going around the second and third time are often treated quite rudely. But the thing I like about Sowers is that he seems to be a thinking man's pitcher. He's constantly changing speeds, working inside and outside -- doing whatever's necessary to get the hitters out. Plus, he rarely gets rattled.

Yes, Sowers won't be able to sneak up on teams, as he did last season, but I also believe we haven't seen everything in the young lefthander's arsenal. I can't recall another 23 year old whose polish as a pitcher compares to Sowers' at this stage. Best of all, while clearly prideful about his skill and performance, Sowers doesn't seem overwhelmed with his talents. He realizes he has to keep working, keep out-thinking the hitters to stay ahead of them.

In that sense, in his work habits and studious nature, he reminds me of Greg Maddox. Perhaps that's just wishful thinking, because Maddox ranks with the best pitchers of all time. But I see a certain craftiness in both pitchers. Maddox never blew hitters away, and neither will Sowers, but the youngster might be smart enough to keep them off balance for the next decade or so.

Or, I could just be catching a case of spring training fever. No matter. This is the time to dream, and Jeremy Sowers looks like the future of a terrific Indians pitching staff.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: Del Crandall, who handled a great pitching staff on the old Milwaukee Braves, came over to the Indians in 1966 to help keep Sam McDowell's head in the game. It worked, but only part of the time.

Today's quiz: True or false -- Tony Horton once led the American League in home runs.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

Much is made of Cleveland manager Eric Wedge's reluctance to have his players steal bases. Of course, most of the Indians Wedge has managed these past four seasons run as if their feet are encased in concrete. Grady Sizemore is an exception -- he can run -- and Wedge gives him the green light to try to steal whenever he wants.

But now the Indians have a player who shows real skill as a base stealer. Newly-acquired second baseman Josh Barfield swiped 20 bases in 2006 -- his rookie season with the San Diego Padres. Earlier this week, former Tribe catcher Sandy Alomar Jr., who, during his time with the Dodgers last season, saw plenty of Barfield, predicted the youngster could steal 50 bases.

Barfield, according to what we read in the Cleveland newspapers, likes the sound of that, but Wedge isn't so sure. He worries about the Indians running themselves out of big innings. That could be an "American League way of thinking." This is the domain of the DH, after all, where so many teams seem more content to sit back and wait for the 3-run homer. Or, it could reveal a managerial flaw in Wedge's makeup.

Part of the Tribe's weakness in recent years has been its inability to run -- to use speed to manufacture runs. Yes, the Indians were a high-scoring team in 2006, but in close, low-scoring games, a stolen base here and there, a successfully-executed hit and run can make the difference.

That's why I'm excited about Barfield. Perhaps he can help set the table for the rest of the slow-footed sluggers.

I must admit to being a little put off, too, by Wedge's lack of enthusiasm for stolen bases. Yes, he's managed slow teams during his time in Cleveland, but that's not to say it will always be that way. I've long felt Wedge needs to stretch a bit in his approach to the game. It's not as if he's been managing the Yankees, a team with unlimited resources, but he often plays things too close to the vest.

It's time to turn the guys, who can run, loose. Speed, it seems, could be a valuable weapon in the Tribe's offensive arsenal. And it could help the manager keep his job.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: No, Tony Horton never led the A.L. in home runs. The most he ever hit in a single season was 27.

Today's quiz: "I won 8 games in 27 starts for the Tribe in 2003. But now I'm struggling to keep my place on the big-league roster. Who am I?"

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

He's only 26, but it feels as if C.C. Sabathia has been a fixture in the Indians' starting rotation since Birdie Tebbetts was manager. Some will say the young southpaw, who owns 81 wins in his first six seasons, is too much like a promising lefthander of another era -- Sudden Sam McDowell.

Both pitchers were blessed great stuff, that's for sure. But McDowell was troubled by inner demons that eventually drove him from the game at age 32. Sabathia looks as if he's just coming into his own. At spring training this year, he's been talking like a veteran and providing leadership in the clubhouse.

No, more than McDowell, Sabathia reminds me of Manny Ramirez, although Manny never provided any leadership on the Indians. He did put up awesome numbers, however, and was still a young player when he bolted from Cleveland for all those millions offered by the Red Sox. Now, Manny is headed for the Hall of Fame.

The reason Sabathia reminds me of Ramirez is that I think he, too, will leave Cleveland when his contract expires at the end of the 2008 season. He's already mentioned a couple of times that "It might be nice to pitcher closer to home." Tribe fans wish Sabathia was from Painesville, but he's not; he's a Californian, through and through, which makes his comments alarming.

It doesn't mean Cleveland couldn't put on a drive to keep him. Why bother to make a pitch to sign a free agent when you've already got one of the game's best young lefthanders? This is the part that makes no sense to me.

If the Dolan family, which owns the Indians, is not short of cash, why wouldn't they make a preemptive move to keep Sabathia? His price will only go up between now and the end of 2008. It feels as if they won't, because they just don't have the will to do what it takes to keep Jake Westbrook, Travis Hafner and Sabathia.

Of the three, I'd go for C.C. If they can't re-sign him, then I'd go for the C.C. and water.

Sabathia looks as if he's on the verge of a big year -- 20 wins, 250 strikeouts, and possibly even a Cy Young Award. As a longtime Tribe fan, I'm tired of losing players just as they're ready to enter their prime. I'm also tired of bad decisions that lead to the loss of future hall of famers such as Omar Vizquel.

There's a player who really wanted to finish his career in Cleveland, and who would have signed at far below his market value. The Tribe management misjudged his ability and durability, and now, the San Franciso Giants are in the process of signing Vizquel to a contract extension.

When will they learn? Unfortunately, I think it will be too late to keep Sabathia in Cleveland.

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The answer to the last quickie quiz: Jason Davis won 8 games as a Tribe starting pitcher in 2003.

Today's quiz: Name the two former Indians who are battling it out for the starting third baseman's job in San Diego.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere.

Now that Cliff Lee is out until at least mid-April, it appears that Fausto Carmona will start the season with the Indians. Roberto Hernandez, a veteran of 16 big league seasons, said Monday he caught three of the games on TV last season that Carmona blew during his brief stint as Cleveland's closer.

"I'm a baseball junkie, and I'm always watching games 'til all hours of the night," said Hernandez, 42. "The kid has blazing stuff, that much is clear, and I wish I could have been there to give him a bit of advice."

Hernandez is a member of the Indians this season, and he says he won't be shy about giving tips to younger pitchers. He's respected for his wisdom, and isn't known as a meddler or a troublemaker, which is probably one reason why he's lasted so long in the big leagues.

This much is certain: the Indians need better clubhouse leadership than they had in 2006. I think it's why GM Mark Shapiro went out and signed a guy like Trot Nixon late in the winter, instead of going with a promising youngster like Shin-Soo Choo. We'll see how it works out.

** ** ** ** ** ** **

The player who I was hoping would win the Indians' utility infielder's job is apparently out of the running. Joe Inglett has suffered from pulled leg muscles at various times during his career, and the fact that it's happened again seems to have doomed his chances.

Inglett worked hard since the end of last season, polishing his defensive skills at the instructional league in Arizona, and trying to prove to the Indians that he could fill in at 2nd, 3rd and shortstop. Now his legs have betrayed him once again. It's a shame.

It sounds as if Hector Luna has the most skill of the players who are still in the running for the utility job, but the Indians are leery of his work ethic and training habits. I think if Luna rallies over the next two and a half weeks -- especially on defense -- he can still win this job. But if he acts nonchalantly, he'll be out.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: Former Tribesmen Kevin Kouzmanoff and Russell Branyan are battling it out to become San Diego's starting third baseman.

Today's quiz: Which one of these former Indians players never worked as a Tribe broadcaster: Mudcat Grant, Rocky Colavito, John Farrell or Dave Nelson.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere.

I don't know about you, but I'm starting to get that same old bad feeling about the Indians defense. A horrible bullpen and leaky defense doomed the team to a losing record in 2006, and some of those problems seem to be resurfacing. Not with the bullpen -- not so far, anyway. But the infield -- especially the corners and behind the plate -- has not impressed anyone in recent days.

Base stealers are 5-for-5 against catcher Victor Martinez, who couldn't throw out Grandma Moses last season. If he starts the season like this, Cleveland will be forced to make a change. Yes, Martinez can really hit -- from both sides of the plate -- but you can't have a catcher who is unable to toss out the slowest of would-be base stealers.

Martinez would likely have to be moved to first base, and Kelly Shoppach installed behind the plate. I hope that doesn't happen, because Ryan Garko is a personal favorite. But Garko's defensive skills also need vast improvment. He's been working hard, by all reports, but he still looks clumsy around the bag.

I'm also concerned about Andy Marte at third base, who has not fielded particularly well this spring, even though he was a solid defender last August and September. It appears that Marte, a streak hitter, might struggle at the plate. I can see him batting about .240 with, maybe, 18 homers and 60 RBIs. Those are certainly not the kind of numbers the Indians thought he would produce when they traded Coco Crisp for him a year ago. But that's how it looks to me.

Shortstop Jhonny Peralta was a stiff in the field in 2006, but I actually think his performance will improve this season. His vision has improved, he's in better physical condition and his attitude seems so much more positive. Plus, I think Peralta will be helped by the addition of Jason Barfield at second base.

Ronnie Belliard was not a bad second baseman, but he played in shallow right field and, as a result, didn't have much range. Barfield, who's younger and swifter, should eventually prove to be an upgrade over Barfield. Maybe not right off the bat, but certainly by mid-season, once he becomes more familiar with the American League and its hitters.

The bullpen is always a crapshoot; you don't know what you'll end up with. I think Tribe GM Mark Shapiro has done what he could to position the team for success, from that standpoint anyway. But the defense, if it's leaky again, will have to improved immediately.

The Indians wasted way too much time last season, hoping for things to improve before they finally threw in the towel and summoned all the kids from Buffalo. Frankly, I wish they'd done it sooner. The season was a lot more interesting after the kids, practically all of whom hustled harder than the slugs they replaced, arrived.

These are some of the hard questions the Indians' braintrust must ponder in the days ahead. It's not enough to start the year and hope that the defense will be improved -- not when it hasn't performed very well in spring training.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: John Farrell never worked as a fulltime broadcaster for the Indians.

Today's quiz: Name the Indians shortstop who dabbled as an artist and once had an exhibition of his paintings at a Cleveland gallery.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere.

They said it would happen, and it finally did today. Indians general Manager Mark Shapiro has signed a 5-year extension of his contract as the team's chief architect.

How should Tribe fans feel about this? They should be pleased. Shapiro, 40, is one of the game's brightest young executives, and my impression is that, on the budget he has, he's squeezing about as much as he can out of the ballclub.

It doesn't mean he's perfect. Shapiro committed a major blunder last year by listening to Eric Wedge and swapping Brandon Phillips to the Reds for two broken bats and a ball covered in Duct tape. The GM has taken his lumps for that stinker of a trade, and what he's learned, I think, is that he's the boss -- not Wedge. Shapiro always liked Phillips' talent and he wasn't angered by the kid's nasty outburst against former Farm Director John Farrell.

What Phillips did was stupid, but where does it say that big league ballplayers are the mental equivalents of Albert Einstein? No, that whole episode was a fiasco, and it cost the Indians a player who could really help them today.

Shapiro's been taking some heat in the New York newspapers this week for supposedly accepting outfield prospect Alex Escobar, instead of shortstop prospect Jose Reyes, in the deal that sent Robbie Alomar to the Mets. It's a good story, except most Tribe insiders claim it's not true. The Indians never had a shot at Reyes.

By and large, Shapiro has made good trades, acquiring players such as Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Cliff Lee and others. He's also rebuilt the farm system, and Cleveland's ranks with the best in baseball.

When you can't afford to re-sign top players, such as C.C. Sabathia, it's important to have young replacements, such as Adam Miller, ready to step in. Of course, it would be ideal if the Dolan family would spring to re-sign a 26-year-old, lefthanded pitching gem like Sabathia, but that might be wishing too much. It is, considering the Dolans have never shown any serious inclination to spend really big bucks. That's why Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome no longer player for the Tribe.

But Shapiro is a bright, talented administrator who should be able to keep the Indians on track to contend. Without more money to spend, the Tribe might never get over the top, but with Shapiro at the helm, they should always be close.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: Omar Vizquel is an artist whose paintings were impressive enough for a Cleveland gallery to give him a show.

Today's quiz: Name the top 5 winners on the Indians fabled 1954 pitching staff. Hint: Hal Newhouser wasn't one of them.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

OK, here's the situation: Several teams are dying for starting pitching, which means that, for once, the Indians are in the driver's seat. They have tons of starters. So, what should they do? Make a deal, for sure!

The easy trade would be to shuffle Paul Byrd off to the Braves or some team that has a top-flight farm system. Or, they could even trade Jake Westbrook, whose value might be lowered because he's in the last year of his contract.

Personally, I wouldn't trade Westbrook unless I was certain I couldn't re-sign him. Or, if he wants too much money. That wouldn't be so much of a concern if C.C. Sabathia's contract wasn't up after the 2008 season.

Baseball administrators never want to make a move before they have to, but I'd try to nail down Sabathia now -- even if it meant giving up on Westbrook. As much as I like Westbrook, Sabathia's the man. He has the potential to develop into one of baseball's top pitchers. The worry is I get the impression he hopes to eventually sign with a west coast team.

So, what makes me think the Indians are so flush with starting pitching, especially with Cliff Lee sidelined by a muscle pull? Everybody is raving about young Adam Miller, who's been pitching so well in Florida after posting a 15-6 record at Akron last season.

If the Indians don't trade one of the starters, Fausto Carmona and Miller will spend most of the year at Buffalo. Miller is apparently so impressive than everyone's forgotten about Jeremy Sowers, another promising young hurler.

Cleveland doesn't have to swing a deal right away. The Tribe could start the season and see how desperate the other clubs get. Problem there is Byrd might start slowly again, as he did last season. So, given that, his value is higher now.

But, what does the Tribe trade for? The club shouldn't make a deal just to make one. I also have a feeling that, after such negative fallout from the Coco Crisp-Andy Marte deal, Mark Shapiro might be a little gun shy. Not really, but he might be thinking, "Why make a trade if I don't have to?"

Here's what might force his hand. If the bullpen really stinks again, and somebody has a reliever to spare, it might be tempting.

The next few weeks should be quite interesting -- more interesting than usual.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: The top five winners on the Tribe's brilliant 1954 pitching staff were: Early Wynn, Bob Lemon, Mike Garcia, Art Houtteman and Bob Feller.

Today's quiz: I picked this one up from yesterday's Tribe telecast -- when Bert Blyleven joined the Indians in 1981, Rick Manning surrendered his No. 28 to the wily lefthander. What number did Manning take?

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

The Grapefruit League wins keep piling up for the Indians, as Tribe pitchers post goose egg after goose egg. But don't be lulled into thinking the Indians are better than they are.

Personally, I'd rather they were more in the middle of the pack, rather than near the top of the Grapefruit standings. We can't forget these games count for very little. It's important for players to perform well, of course, and you like to see the pitchers, especially, put up nice numbers. But it's better if the teams makes it through spring training with as few pulled muscles and sore arms as possible.

Cliff Lee is already sidelined with a muscle pull that threatens to keep him on the shelf through much of April. At least Fausto Carmona and Adam Miller appear to be ready to step in, just in case.

The big question of the spring -- who will step up as the team's utility man? -- is still unclear. That there has not been a standout has positively affected Hector Luna's status, because he's still in the running. Two weeks ago, it seemed as if Eric Wedge would have been pleased to send Luna packing.

When questioned about his six errors this spring, Luna replied, "I don't know why, but I always make a lot of errors early on. Last year I had 8 and this point."

The guy's got a lot of nerve, but that kind of attitude appeals to me. Plus, it looks as if Luna has the most natural ability of the other candidates.

The Indians must really be worried about their defense, but it appears they're ready to send Ryan Garko back to Buffalo, even though he's hitting a ton. Garko's committed two errors, and you have the feeling that if he makes one more, he's history. Personally, I don't get this. Why put so much pressure on the guy? If they don't want him at first, then bite the bullet and put Victor Martinez there.

The other big concern for this club is the bullpen. So far, the guys are pitching great, but spring numbers don't mean much. Hardly anyone is playing for keeps -- except players like Garko.

In scanning press reports from the weekend, it was rather starting to note that when one of the utility guys dove for a ball and started a nifty double play, three beat reporters who cover the Tribe regularly pointed out it's the first time they've seen a Cleveland shortstop dive for a ball since Omar Vizquel left.

That would seem to indicate that Jhonny Peralta, despite impressive numbers this spring, is still a shaky figure at shortstop. Those are the questions the Indians need to ask: are they prepared to go with Peralta for a full season at short? If not, make a change. Same deal with Garko.

You're not going to win a pennant, though, with a whole team full of Casey Blakes. It's not nearly enough.

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The answer to the last quickie quiz: When Bert Blyleven took Rick Manning's no. 28, which number did the Tribe centerfielder switch to? No. 20. Manning said he wanted Frank Robinson's old number.

Today's quiz: Name the former Indians catcher who caught two perfect games -- one for the Tribe, and the other for a National League club.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

When Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro recently signed a contract extension, much was made of the "family atmosphere" he created on the ballclub. Shapiro's intelligence and sensitivity were hailed by players and management alike.

Overall, I believe the Indians have benefitted from Shapiro's keen perception -- especially in matters that might only be vaguely related to baseball. But, watching the replay of Bob Wickman notching a victory over Cleveland on Monday, I keep wondering why the Indians traded him.

Wickman wasn't pitching poorly when the Tribe shipped him to Atlanta midway through the 2006 campaign. He just didn't have enough save opportunities. The Indians didn't receive much in return for the veteran closer, and, frankly, they looked a bit foolish when Wickman was lights out for the Braves through to the end of the season.

Now, Cleveland really needs a closer, and Joe Borowski is about the best they could manage. At his peak performance, Borowski is no Wickman, and, as an Indians fan, it pains me to see Wickman in a Braves uniform when he clearly enjoyed pitching for the Tribe.

Shapiro and Eric Wedge both say, "Gee, we thought he would retire at the end of the year." But they were wrong. The lines of communication must have been faulty.

What really happened, I suspect, is that Wickman was wounded when Shapiro made such an all-out effort to sign San Diego's Trevor Hoffman. When that failed, Shapiro came back to Wickman and signed him, but the chemistry was damaged. And, for whatever reason, the Indians chose not to repair it. That might be a harsh assessment, but I believe it to be the truth. And now the Indians are at risk, with Borowski as closer.

Hopefully, it won't turn out to be a big deal. But in a year when the selection of relievers was so thin, don't you wish Shapiro would have stayed a little bit closer to Wickman?

This wasn't the only major screwup Shapiro made with Cleveland's bullpen, either. A year ago, he let Bob Howry escape when the Tribe failed to come close to matching the 3-year, $12 million offer the setup man received from the Cubs. Today, that money doesn't sound the least bit outlandish.

When you hear fans talks of Mark Shapiro's "genius," think about Bob Wickman and Bob Howry.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: Ron Hassey caught two perfect games during his career -- Len Barker's in Cleveland and Dennis Martinez's in Montreal.

Today's quiz: Which Tribe pitcher in 1992 became the first American League hurler in 30 years to get a hit in the All-Star Game?

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

So far, spring training 2007 hasn't been much fun for Ryan Garko. The 26-year-old first baseman has been struggling to make the Cleveland Indians' opening day roster, even though he was the club's second-best hitter last August and September.

The problem is Garko's defense. Until 2005, he'd been a catcher since little league, and when he plays first base, he tends to block hard-hit ground balls, instead of snare them, as Eddie Murray used to do so gracefully.

The Indians' infield defense stank in '06, and everyone is still jittery about a repeat. So, Garko, who's working feverishly to improve his skills around the bag, is on the bubble.

The general feeling has been that Garko will make it to Cleveland if the club decides to keep just one utility infielder. Hector Luna has the most talent, but does not bring a serious approach to the game. He tends to put on weight and get out of shape, and he makes too many errors for a team that's already sweating its defensive performance.

How would you like to be in Garko's position, counting on Luna to win the job to secure your spot? Midway through camp, another player seemed to be threatening Garko, as well. When Victor Martinez took over at first base one afternoon, the Tribe's No. 1 catcher made two nifty plays and started a slick 3-6-3 double play.

Suddenly, it renewed talk about moving Martinez, a switch-hitter, to first on a more permanent basis. Kelly Shoppach, Martinez's understudy, is a better defensive catcher and, presumably, could step in as the starter behind the plate.

So, Garko likely found himself worrying about Luna and Martinez. Thankfully for Ryan, Martinez's throwing has improved over the last two weeks, silencing -- for now, anyway -- the catcher's critics.

It appears, however, there's a 50-50 chance that Garko still won't make the club. If that's the case, he'll have to return to Buffalo -- again -- and keep working on his defense. As unfair as that must seem to him, it might be how things work out.

If it was up to me, I'd keep Garko. He's such a hard worker that, unless he proves he just can field the position, he'll improve. Plus, he's a strong righthanded hitter, which Cleveland needs, and he had a terrific 2-month stretch at the end of last season. At 26, he's no longer just a prospect, and he understands it's time to put up or shut up.

Should Garko show he's not up to the job, Cleveland can always send him down later. But I wouldn't do it now. Bottom line is the club can use this guy.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: Charles Nagy became the first A.L. pitcher in 30 years to get a hit in the All-Star Game when he singled in the 1992 game.

Today's quiz: Name the Tribe third baseman who slugged 32 homers during the 1987 season.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere.

The Indians rested on Wednesday -- the only scheduled day off of spring training. But don't think for a minute that the club's deep thinkers were lounging in the hammock, Cuba Libre in hand. I suspect GM Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge are just like every other serious Tribe fan, and they spent the day mulling over the roster.

The Ryan Garko-Hector Luna-Ben Francisco question is still up in the air, but I suspect Shapiro looks deeper than the fight to seize the last spot on the roster. He's probably focusing on the same problem that doomed the 2006 season -- Cleveland's faulty bullpen.

Here's where it gets tricky. Shapiro spent the entire off season, piecing together and patching up a makeshift bullpen. This is not a club that looks at promising young pitchers and says, "Yes, that guy could be our closer, or our setup man." They tried it last year with Fausto Carmona and ended up so badly burned that they'll likely never go that route again, which is too bad.

What happened to Carmona after he was thrust into the closer's spot was stunning. It was spectacular, like watching one of those old Las Vegas hotels getting blown to smithereens. But it wasn't a bad idea. The club was going nowhere and I kind of liked the idea of trying something bold. Really, the season was a stupendous bore until Shapiro and Wedge sent half the veterans packing and called up all the kids from Buffalo. Watching the kids was interesting and fun.

So, what does Shapiro do in the off season? He signs up David Delluci and Trot Nixon, and a bunch of has-beens for the bullpen. Don't get me wrong; a team needs veterans, guys who've been there before. Leadership is required in the clubhouse, but it can be developed quickly. Look at Grazy Sizemore -- an established clubhouse leader at 24. Don't forget, the Indians once hired a 24-year-old shortstop named Lou Boudreau to manage the team. Eventually, the Tribe won a world championship and Boudreau ended up in the Hall of Fame.

When I look at this club, the big weakness I see is still the bullpen. Yes, the relief corps has posted impressive numbers this spring, but can the Indians really count on Joe Borowski and 42-year-old Roberto Hernandez over the course of a full season? Frankly, I doubt it. I have the same feeling now that I did a year ago when the Tribe decided to break camp with Danny Graves, hoping he would recapture the All-Star form of his days with the Reds. He didn't, and it was only the beginning of a complete meltdown.

To avoid a repeat of this, Shapiro must be thinking trade. He'll probably have to bundle up some promising young players, such as Garko, and maybe throw in a veteran like Paul Byrd. If the team stumbles badly out of the gate, don't be surprised if Cleveland tries to trade Jhonny Peralta, or even C.C. Sabathia.

The danger is that Shapiro, thanks to the small budget his bosses give him to work with, already has the reputation of constantly building for the future. He can no longer afford to follow that path if he hopes to enhance the fan base. Cleveland fans are tired of waiting 'til next year.

See? I told you nobody rests on a day off from baseball. If you're not dreaming up ways to improve, you'll be walking on the same treadmill forever.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: Brook Jacoby slugged 32 homers in 1987. It was by far the most he ever hit in one season.

Today's quiz: Name the Indians infielder who made an unassisted triple play during the 1920 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

If the Indians learned one important lesson from their disappointing 2006 season, it's that they can't stand pat. They went way too long with veteran players last year who just couldn't do the job anymore. It was painful to watch Jason Johnson get hammered time and again, every time he took the mound. What made it absolutely torturous, though, was having Jeremy Sowers down in Buffalo, blowing hitters away.

Finally, on June 21, the Indians traded Johnson to Boston. But by then, the season was over. When Sowers joined the Tribe, he pitched almost as well as he had at Buffalo.

Cleveland can't make the same mistakes in '07. If Paul Byrd, who was only marginally better than Johnson last year, struggles again, the Indians must promote Adam Miller to take his place. Miller is the best prospect in the organization, and he didn't allow a single run during spring training.

I can see why the Indians don't want to rush their prospects, but they can't afford to be conservative. You'll recall in 1994 that Mike Hargrove didn't want to keep young Manny Ramirez on the roster, but was overruled by John Hart.

Ramirez went on to have a solid rookie season, which ended abruptly when play was interrupted in August of that year, due to a labor disagreement. It turned out Ramirez played a significant role in the Indians' development, which culminated the following year in a pennant.

Young pitchers are a bit different than young hitters, but Cleveland doesn't have so many weapons it can let Miller remain at AAA, especially if pitchers are struggling at the big-league level.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: Infielder Bill Wambsganss made an unassisted triple play for the Indians in the 1920 World Series.

Today's quiz: True or false: Former Erie Sailors manager Mal Fichman once managed in the Indians farm system.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

Hector Luna has been exiled to Buffalo, C.C. Sabathia is blowing hitters away, and Jake Westbrook sounds as if he's on the verge of signing a multi-year deal with the Indians. Can Opening Day be far away?

It's not, and I'm pleased that it appears Cliff Lee's pulled oblique muscle might be the only semi-serious injury of the spring. Promising young pitcher Tony Sipp has a sore elbow, but the Indians weren't counting on him for this season. So, take it easy for a while, Tony. Don't rush your recuperation.

With Luna out of the picture, Cleveland appears to plan to keep just one utility infielder. That would seem to bode well for Ryan Garko, although the Indians are still toying with the idea of keeping a seventh outfielder. I wouldn't do it. Garko's righthanded bat will help more.

I'm still a little concerned about the Indians' bullpen, but it's not something Cleveland can fix now. And, really, we don't even know for sure that the pen is broken. Just think of me as suffering residual bullpen shellshock from 2006.

The new about Westbrook's contract is good. It's always better to have a guy like this locked up for several years. If the kid pitching prospects force the Indians to make a deal somewhere down the line, they could trade Westbrook then.

It sounds as if Kelly Shoppach, sans 25 pounds, is throwing out runners as if he's the second coming of Bill Dickey. Makes you wonder how long the Indians will kep going with Victor Martinez behind the plate, if he continues to have throwing problems. Again, this is a situation that has to be monitored during the regular season -- spring training games count for only so much.

Perhaps the best news of the spring is the way shortstop Jhonny Peralta is playing. He turned six double plays with new second baseman Jason Barfield on Saturday, and everyone says Peralta has never moved so well. Better defense from the Tribe's keystone men could make a huge difference in '07.

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The answer to the last quickie quiz: Yes, Mal Fichman managed in the Indians farm system. The former Erie Sailors skipper has certainly been around.

Today's quiz: Who is the most recent former Tribesman to win election to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown?

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere.

As we draw nearer to Opening Day, longtime Indians fans mighg be thinking back to some of the more interesting openers they either attended or can recall from over the years. Some might think about Frank Robinson's dramatic home run in the 1975 opener, which marked his first game as the first black manager in baseball.

I recall Rick Waits' one-hit shutout in an Indians' opening day win in the early 1980's, primarily because it felt like the coldest day of the year -- perhaps of the entire decade. That hard, biting wind off Lake Erie made it feel like a Browns game in December.

But my most cherished memory of opening day came at the height of one of the worst stretches of Cleveland baseball -- in April of 1971. That's saying something, too, because Tribe fans endured a long drought of bad ball during those years.

1971 will always remain the day Gomer Hodge became an Indians immortal. A 28-year-old switch hitter who'd already spent nine years in the minors, Hodge entered the game against Boston in the eighth inning and promptly lined a single to center. It help spark an Indians rally that eventually pulled the Tribe to within a run of the Red Sox.

An inning later, Hodge's liner to right-center drove in the winning run. Hodge, who gained his nickname because of his resemblance in speech and looks to Gomer Pyle, collected two more hits in his next two at-bats, giving him a 4-for-4 start for the season.

Cleveland sportswriters loved Hodge because he was a natural. After stroking his fourth straight hit, Gomer told the reporters, "Gollee, fellas, I'm hittin' 4.000!"

His hot streak didn't last, and Hodge finished the year with a .205 batting average. It turned out to be his only year in the big leagues, although Hodge would spend more than two decades as a minor league coach and manager.

Just about a year ago, his son came across this blog and sent me a long letter, explaining what had happened to Gomer Hodge. "My dad has Lou Gehrig's disease and dementia," Gomer's son explained. "He's not in good shape, but he's still able to look at pictures, cards and listen to letters from old fans."

When I mentioned this in a subsequent blog, dozens of fans responded. In the past two weeks, Hodge's wife, Linda, has chatted with Akron Beacon Journal columnist Terry Pluto and former Plain Dealer baseball writer Russell Schneider, bringing them up to date about her husband.

Gomer Hodge is now in the final stages of his illness, but his wife said he still enjoys hearing from longtime fans. You can write to him at: Gomer Hodge, Autumn Care of Saluda; P.O. Box 488, Saluda, N.C. 28773.

Tell him you still that about that chilly April day in 1971, when he was the best hitter in baseball.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: Dennis Ecklersly is the last player, who spent time with the Indians, to be elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame.

Today's quiz: What was the colorful nickname of outfielder Walt Williams, who played with the Indians during the 1973 season?

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

The Cleveland Browns have played so poorly in recent seasons, with terrible injury after terrible injury, that many Cleveland fans tend to lump the Indians in with their NFL brethren. Today, when C.C. Sabathia took a hard line drive off his pitching arm, near his wrist, I heard several Tribe fans scream, "You knew it would happen!"

As it turns out, Sabathia's X-rays were negative -- no broken bones --and he's listed as day to day. But, if you remember Travis Hafner's hand injury late last season, he was listed as day to day until they went back, took more X-rays and decided he had a broken hand after all. The Indians will just have to monitor Sabathia's injury to see how he comes around.

The only good thing (and it's not really a good thing) about such an injury is that it happened now -- not a week from now. If Sabathia is still extremely sore by the weekend, the Indians could place him on the disabled list and summon Adam Miller from Buffalo.

Young Miller, as talented as he is, is no Sabathia. But it could be a lot worse -- the Indians might have to turn to a guy, say, like Jason Davis. He's spooky enough in the bullpen.

I'm also pleased to see that Tribe GM Mark Shapiro is still trying to swing a trade for an established relief pitcher. He hasn't been successful yet, but he's wise to keep trying.

It's a relief that Ryan Garko made the final cut. Had Garko been sent to Buffalo, it would have been horribly unfair. Yes, he's still a crude fielder at first base, but Garko works hard and he hits a ton. I'm glad to have his bat on the club.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: Former Indians outfielder Walter Williams was known as Walt "No Neck" Williams.

Today's quiz: Name the Indians manager who was so tough, he refused to let the Latin players speak Spanish to each other when they were on the field together.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

The Cleveland Browns have played so poorly in recent seasons, with terrible injury after terrible injury, that many Cleveland fans tend to lump the Indians in with their NFL brethren. Today, when C.C. Sabathia took a hard line drive off his pitching arm, near his wrist, I heard several Tribe fans scream, "You knew it would happen!"

As it turns out, Sabathia's X-rays were negative -- no broken bones --and he's listed as day to day. But, if you remember Travis Hafner's hand injury late last season, he was listed as day to day until they went back, took more X-rays and decided he had a broken hand after all. The Indians will just have to monitor Sabathia's injury to see how he comes around.

The only good thing (and it's not really a good thing) about such an injury is that it happened now -- not a week from now. If Sabathia is still extremely sore by the weekend, the Indians could place him on the disabled list and summon Adam Miller from Buffalo.

Young Miller, as talented as he is, is no Sabathia. But it could be a lot worse -- the Indians might have to turn to a guy, say, like Jason Davis. He's spooky enough in the bullpen.

I'm also pleased to see that Tribe GM Mark Shapiro is still trying to swing a trade for an established relief pitcher. He hasn't been successful yet, but he's wise to keep trying.

It's a relief that Ryan Garko made the final cut. Had Garko been sent to Buffalo, it would have been horribly unfair. Yes, he's still a crude fielder at first base, but Garko works hard and he hits a ton. I'm glad to have his bat on the club.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: Former Indians outfielder Walter Williams was known as Walt "No Neck" Williams.

Today's quiz: Name the Indians manager who was so tough, he refused to let the Latin players speak Spanish to each other when they were on the field together.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

Everyone in the wigwam is breathing easier today, as the swelling and pain have subsided from C.C. Sabathia's big left arm. Initial reports of the line drive that struck the Tribe southpaw Wednesday made it sound as if he'd broken his wrist or arm. Now, Sabathia's talking about pitching Monday's opener against the White Sox.

Perhaps it's an omen of good things to come in 2007. An injury to Sabathia that might have kept him sidelined for 6 weeks or 2 months would have been a blow. Had they lost him for the season, it might have proven a fatal setback to Cleveland's chances of contending this season.

Now, at the very worst, it appears Sabathia might only miss a start or two. C.C.'s an interesting guy. The massively-built pitcher - he stands 6-foot-7 and weighs more than 300 pounds - is likely in his penultimate year with the Indians.

At age 26, Sabathia ranks with the best lefthanded starting pitchers in baseball. With a blazing fastball, crackling curve and good control, he boasts awesome stuff. C.C. already owns 81 major league victories and he seems determined to put up strong numbers this season and next.

Then, he'll be a free agent -- able to write his own ticket. You can be certain that well-heeled clubs like the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels will be offering him contracts worth well in excess of $100 million -- perhaps even $200 million. Sadly, it's doubtful the Indians will be able to compete to retain Sabthia. He's already talking about how nice it would be to return to his native west coast -- he was born and still lives in Southern California.

So, the Indians and Tribe fans should enjoy Sabathia while he's still in Cleveland. I'm glad he seems to have escaped serious injury, and I look forward to a really big year.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: Joe Adcock, who managed the Indians in 1967, was so tough and so officious that he would not permit Latin players from coversing with other Latin players in Spanish on the field.

Today's quiz: What was Charlie Spikes' real first name? He was an outfielder for the Tribe in the 1970s, who never quite reached his potential.

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-- Kevin Cuneo

Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

One of the more gratifying aspects of spring training 2007 has been Andy Marte's skill at blending in and maintaining a low profile. Of course, if Marte was hitting like Grady Sizemore (a little over a buck, although I'm not worried), you'd hear wailing from Winter Haven to Cleveland.

Happily, Marte is batting .278 with a couple of homers and handful of ribbies. After two sloppy days of fielding at third base early in camp, Eric Wedge huddled with Marte, and he's fielded much more competently since then.

Casey Blake has taken enough turns at the hot corner, so that he'll be able to step in for a game or two should Marte suffer through an 0-for-25 skid.

So far, things seem to be going about as well as they could. Marte, 23, is not a disciplined hitter, and he still fishes for outside curveballs. But his athletic ability appears true, and he's shown an easy grace around the bag.

Actually, if he can field the position as well as he did last September, and hit .250 with occasional bursts of power, he'll be a big step up from Aaron Boone. The most surprising aspect of Boone's decline last year was his wooden demeanor at third. He simply couldn't move anymore.

Marte's defense was considered a liability upon his promotion to Cleveland, but he was clearly a superior fielder to Boone -- at least at that stage of Boonie's career.

The Indians seem to have handled Marte's situation well. They've encouraged his low profile and plan to bat him deep in the order. You know that Tribe GM Mark Shapiro is eager for Marte to perform well -- Shapiro took so much heat last year after shipping fan favorite Coco Crisp to Boston for the kid.

But Cleveland doesn't need a lot of offense from Marte at this point. As long as some others can pick up the slack, he should be able to bat about .230 until mid-June. Then, he'll need to pick it up.

I'm pleased that Marte is not striking out as much as he was, which shows that he might be learning some disicipline at the plate. On the other hand, it's still only spring training, and he's yet to face the best of A.L. hurlers under game conditions.

Should worse come to worse, and Marte finds himself completely overmatched, Blake could probably return to third base -- especially because it appears Victor Martinez is going to see a lot more action at first than originally predicted.

It should be fun to watch Marte's progress. Check back in a month for further updates.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: Charlie Spikes' real name is Leslie.

Today's quiz: Name the Indians pitcher of the 1960's whose nickname was Ding-Dong.

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-- Kevin Cuneo